DC DMV issues vehicle registration reciprocity privileges to people who are permanent residents in other jurisdictions, but who, by law, are allowed reciprocal residency privileges in the District. Reciprocity privileges are also issued to some District residents who are unable to obtain District tags. Reciprocity privileges are available to:
- US military personnel on active duty
- Full-time students attending a college or university in the District of Columbia
- Part-time District residents
- Member of Congress or personal staff members of a member of Congress
- Temporary District resident
- Presidential appointees
- Diplomats
- District residents with take home company vehicles
If you qualify for reciprocity and you live on a street zoned for residential parking, you may obtain a residential parking permit (RPP) for your vehicle for an additional fee. Reciprocity does not give you parking privileges in restricted areas.
To qualify for a reciprocity permit, you must meet the criteria listed below for your category, present the documents required for your category at a DC DMV Service Center and pay applicable permit fees. You can also apply for an RPP if you need one.
US Military Personnel on Active Duty
This category includes military personnel on active duty, their spouses, and their minor dependents under 21 years of age, provided the military member signs an affidavit stating the dependent or spouse resides at the same address in the District as the military member.
Reciprocity permits for active duty military personnel are valid for one year and are renewable. To be eligible, you need:
- Valid military identification or military orders for military member, dependent or spouse.
- A valid out-of-state driver license.
- A valid out-of-state vehicle registration in the name of the active duty military member, dependent or spouse.
- Proof of insurance in the name of the active duty military member, dependent or spouse, as required by the issuing registration.
- Proof of Current District of Columbia Residency. You will need one document from the list.
Full-Time Student Attending a College or University in District of Columbia
Student reciprocity permits are valid for one year and are renewable. To be eligible you need:
- A statement from the registrar's office on the college's or university's letterhead stating that you are a full time student.
- A valid out-of-state driver license.
- A valid out-of-state vehicle registration in the name of the student.
- If there are additional names on the vehicle registration, a copy of the out-of-state driver license must be provided.
- Proof of insurance with your name on the insurance, as required by the issuing registration jurisdiction.
- Proof of Current District of Columbia Residency. You will need one document from the list.
Note: DC law prevents students in Advisory Neighborhood Commission (ANC) areas 2A and 2E; 3D01, 3D02, 3D07, 3D08 and 3D10 (near American University); and ANC 3D06 and 3D09 (near Georgetown University) from receiving RPPs. If you are a student living in one of these areas, you must get a DC DMV driver license and register your vehicles in the District to get an RPP and park without restriction.
Part-Time District Resident
Reciprocity permits for part-time District residents are valid for 1 year and are renewable. To qualify as a part-time resident, you need:
- A valid out-of-state driver license.
- Valid out-of-state vehicle registration in the part-time DC resident's name.
- Proof of insurance in the name of the part-time DC resident, as required by the issuing registration jurisdiction.
- Proof of DC property ownership with a home title or mortgage document in the part-time resident's name.
- Proof of part-time DC residency in DC property with utility or cable bill in the part-time resident's name.
Member of Congress or Personal Staff Member of a Member of Congress
This category includes members of Congress, their spouses, their dependents under 21 years of age, their personal staff members and the personal staff members’ spouses and dependents.
Spouses and dependents must sign an affidavit stating that they reside at the same address in the District as the member of Congress or the personal staff member.
Note: The personal staff member must have a valid driver license and vehicle registration from the home state of the member of Congress for whom he or she works.
Reciprocity permits for Congress members, their families and their personal staff are valid for one year and are renewable. To be eligible, you need:
- A statement on the Congress member's letterhead stating you are a Congress member, a personal staff member, a minor dependent or a spouse.
- A valid out-of-state driver license.
- A valid out-of-state vehicle registration in the Congress member’s, personal staff member’s, minor dependent’s or spouse's name.
- Proof of insurance in the Congress member’s, personal staff member’s, minor dependent’s or spouse's name, as required by the issuing registration jurisdiction.
- Proof of Current District of Columbia Residency. You will need one document from the list.
Temporary District Resident
Reciprocity permits for temporary District residents are valid for 6 months and are NOT renewable. To be eligible, you need:
- A valid out-of-state driver license.
- A valid out-of-state vehicle registration in the temporary District resident's name.
- Proof of insurance in the name of the temporary District resident, as required by the issuing registration jurisdiction.
- Proof of Current District of Columbia Residency. You will need one document from the list.
Presidential Appointee
A presidential appointee is an Officer of the Executive Branch of the United States Government who is not domiciled within the District of Columbia, whose appointment to the office was by the US President, subject to confirmation by the US Senate and whose tenure of office is at the pleasure of the US President.
For DC DMV reciprocity purposes, this category includes any appointee of the US President and the appointee’s spouse and minor dependents under 21 years of age; provided the appointee signs an affidavit stating the dependent or spouse resides at the same address in the District as the appointee.
Reciprocity permits for presidential appointees are valid for one year and are renewable. To be eligible, you need:
- A statement on White House or US Executive Branch letterhead stating you are a presidential appointment (or dependent or spouse), subject to confirmation by the US Senate and your tenure is at the pleasure of the US President.
- A valid out-of-state driver license.
- A valid out-of-state vehicle registration in the name of the presidential appointee, dependent or spouse.
- Proof of insurance in the name of the presidential appointee, dependent or spouse, as required by the issuing registration jurisdiction.
- Proof of Current District of Columbia Residency. You will need one document from the list.
Diplomat
This category includes diplomats, their spouses and their minor dependents under 21 years of age; provided the diplomat signs an affidavit stating the minor or spouse resides at the same address in the District as the diplomat.
Reciprocity permits for diplomats are valid for one year and are renewable. To be eligible, you need:
- Valid US Department of State vehicle registration and driver license.
- Proof of insurance in the name of the diplomat, dependent or spouse.
Additional information on diplomatic reciprocity is available at the link below:
District Resident with Take-Home Company Vehicle
This category includes District residents who use an out-of-state registered company vehicle at home. This will then allow the District resident to obtain a RPP, if needed. If the District resident works for a DC company and has a take-home vehicle, then he or she is not eligible for reciprocity.
Note: Commercial vehicles do not qualify for RPP.
Reciprocity permits for District residents with take-home company vehicles are valid for 1 year and are renewable. To be eligible, you need:
- A valid DC DMV driver license.
- Valid out-of-state vehicle registration in the name of the company.
- Proof of insurance as required by the issuing registration jurisdiction.
- Letter on company letterhead certifying that the District resident is an employee with permission to take the vehicle home.